I'd like to hear suggestions on how to spend 5 weeks in Northern Italy?

Lake Maggiore Stresa, Venice. Dolomites is worth the xtra effort to get there. It is beautiful and the scenery is stunning.Ck transportation ahead becuz it is not a well linked area.and lodging should be reserved ahead in Dolomites areaie Castelrotto etc

Kai, this question is nearly impossible to answer given the limited characters that this sites allows for responses. My suggestion is that you do your homework first, then ask the questions. Go to your public library, use the internet, buy some guide books, but realize that some of your questions cannot be answered and part of a good travel experience is some of the unknowns and the discoveries you make on your own -- including some dogs.

Then when you have some good ideas come back and ask specific question about various aspects of YOUR PLAN. Then folks who are familiar with those areas will respond appropriately. Good luck. Time is short. Start planning, now !!

Kai-

My husband and I visited Varenna on Lake Como back in September and it was lovely. The town is very quaint and features several beautiful gardens along the water. We stayed at Eremo Gaudio, a hotel on the hill above the town that was once a monastery. The scenery from our balcony on the upper level was absolutely breathtaking. The lake coupled with the Swiss Alps in the background is really a sight to see. I've posted pictures of the lake and the town on TripAdvisor under the hotel listed above. Good luck!

Bassano Del Grappa, Marostica, and Nove (for the local pottery). They are about 8 KM appart from each other at the base of the Dolomites north of Padova and Vicenza. There are great wineries in Vo (near Padova) and also in Soave. Eat at an agratourismo. Maybe your hotel can make a reservation for you. I'll always recomend Vicenza and our Villas, but I'm partial. New Years is pretty cool too in the small towns. Each town has fireworks at midnight.

kai, given the extensive list of things you're looking to do and the time you are planning on spending, its unlikely any post or set of posts here are going to suffice.

However there is a solution for you. They're called travel books.

Sorry travel books are too commercial for my taste, an they often include meusuems and things like that which just don't interest me.

I am here asking for non-touristy places, hidden gems, i know n. italy is touristy, and i don't want to see that part of it.

Guidebooks keep onn the beaten trial, i want to go off it, and that means advice from people. Perhaps this is the wrong forum because it seems a lot of older tourists gather here, (the talk of hotels is proof of that). But forums, and internet research far outweight in benefit than some lousy travel book, like lonely planet.

Not all guide books are commercial.
Books from DK, lonely planet,, Time out, Rick Steves might be a better choice for you.
I discover hidden gems on my own, just by walking around and talking to locals.
Most of the time I don't answer questions like yours, because I simply believe people can and should use books instead of expecting others to take the time to answer such questions. No one would know better than yourself where to go and waht to do.
"BEST places to eat" ??? Don't you think people have different taste in food. If I tell you that the best meal I've ever had was horse meat, would you eat that? Just think about it...
I just saw a show on Travel chanel about restaurants that serve horse meat..Yes a lot people love horse meat...that's why I got the idea to mention it.I am vegetarian, though.

If you would have mentioned horse meat, thought I doubt that's from Italy, I would have researched that.

Don't you understand I am looking for a list. Of course, I will talk to people, but maximizing information requires gathering knowledge in different ways. Internet, word of mouth must be used in conjuction to guarantee maximum information. Effecient travellers will understand this better than the average tourist.

I used to read travel books, but I don't stay in hostels anymore, and I'm certainly not going to buy an expensive, heavy book to cram in my backpack. No, i read them when they're in front of me, but I'm not going out of my way to get them. It's easier to seek the same, and often more accurate information from people, both via internet, and in person.

And yes, of course I talk to people, but I am not in Italy yet, am I?

Kai, I think the advice your have received so far is pretty good but you sound pretty lazy and want other people to do your work. I cannot give Best places to eat with local prices. We were there last year and prices change and we seldom remember prices -- why should we? They will change next year. Besides, you might not like what we like.

Kai....efficient travellers start with a broad outline of where they want to visit, narrow it down with their own research (since you are the best judge of what's out there), then just go and experience it. All of the adjectives you mention, "unique, authentic, unforgettable, magnificent" all have different meanings to different travellers. If you visit someone's "unique" spot and you don't feel it's so "unique," you'll likely come away disappointed. Maybe just go....and discover your own unique experiences. BTW, efficient travellers ALWAYS consult travel handbooks....usually 2 or 3.

Kai,

How to put this gently? To find the hidden gem, leave the beaten path, have the special experience all require a level of openness and spontaneity that don't seem to be reflected in your somewhat argumentative and dismissive responses to those who have taken the time to try to help. It may be wise to acknowledge that where you go mainly has to do with where you take you. After all, you don't want to be an "average" tourist do you?

Well put, Lynn.

Hi Kai,
I agree with other posters--I think that Rick Steves Italy book is a good starting point for you--then supplement with other guidebooks. Rick's philosophy is "Back Door Travel"--many of us (young and old) on this site subscribe to that philosophy. It takes LOTS of time to research destinations and create an itinerary that incorporates the things that you described in your original post. Use your basic itinerary as a "springboard" to find your own "off the beaten path" destinations.

"If you would have mentioned horse meat, thought I doubt that's from Italy, I would have researched that."

I'm not a fan, but I've seen it on the menu a few times. Carne di cavallo, I think. I've also seen baby food made from horse in the stores. ok, anyway...

As far as food goes, I've really never paid attention to specific restaurant recommendations. Most places have menus posted outside, so I just wander around until something catches my eye. Start keeping an eye out for menus about 1/2 hour before you get really hungry. This to me is more fun, and a lot easier than trying to find a specific address anyway. I have not had a single bad meal here yet.

The Dolomites are absolutely gorgeous this time of year! This morning they were hiding behind a lot of cloud cover, but they are all dressed up in their snow blankets and just gorgeous! I don't think you have to be into skiing to appreciate the natural beauty there.

If you're really anti-guide-book, then just pick a town and make it your base. Take the train each day to another random town. You're sure to find all kinds of unique non-touristy adventures that way.

Just a thought.....If you don't speak a lot of Italian already, you'll probably want to learn a bit more, I mean more than one would usually require just to get by in a touristy area. In theory, sure you're never very far from an English speaker, but you know, just in case. It will also provide the more authentic experience you seem to be after.

I live in Northern Italy so on Sundays we often hop in the car and head towards the mountains and just see where we end up. We usually look on the internet to see if some town is having a festival or something and head in that direction.
I will say that small, quiet, non touristy doesn't always equal the best prices or the most interesting things to see. Often a place is popular because it is beautiful and worth seeing. My town outside of Bergamo isn't touristy at all, but I wouldn't say that its the best place to see in Northern Italy.
As for Local's food prices, it all depends where you are...I pay a lot to eat when I go to Milan, just like the other "local" Milanese do. Northern Italy is expensive, period.
To find what you are looking for, I suggest renting a car and just seeing where you end up. (Though be careful of those ZTLs, we have them in the small towns and villages as well...)

At the risk of totally hijacking this thread, horsemeat is a local favorite in many parts of Italy, including especially Venice. I took a photo of a "macelleria equina" right next to Pensione Guerrato where we stayed. It means "Horse butcher". We also saw pizza al cavallo (horsemeat pizza) on the menu while in Venice.

My Italian instructor says that Italian doctors recommend eating horsemeat to their anemic or pregnant patients because it's very high in iron.

Okay, back to the topic on five weeks in Northern Italy. I would do a full week in Venice.

Kai, if you would like a wonderful, relaxing hotel with great views and food, look into the Einsiedler hotel in Lana. Every room has a balcony with breath taking views of the alps. Great hiking trails and apples!

Michael, why would you stay a week in Venice? Yes Venice is a must see for a day or two, but Italy has so much more to offer. Sorry, I would spend a few days there and see more of the country.

Gretchen, I would do a full week in Venice because I am a total "Venetophile". We abolutely love it. We've been there twice. The first time in September 2003 for three nights and the second time this past May for five nights. It's never long enough. I love the pace of life, the beauty of almost everything, the peacefulness at night, the many neighborhoods to explore, and I could go on and on.

There are some people who just fall in love with that city. See Judith Martin (Miss Manners) book titled "No Vulgar Hotel: The Desire and Pursuit of Venice" to see what I'm talking about.

Michael, I think you just illustrated why it is impossible to answer kai's question. Different things for different people. I am kind of in Gretchen's camp since I would find it hard to spend a full week in Venice but could do that in Rome, Florence, or a number of other locations -- how about Zug, Switzerland. I love it. Kai, you need to find your own special places.

If you look at kai's checklist, Venice meets most of them, but on reading it again, I see that she's going to be in Italy in January. I wouldn't spend a lot of time Venice in January. It's supposed to get pretty miserable there in winter.

I think Kai has left this board and taken her impossible-to-answer question elsewhere, folks.

No I am always reading the posts, however I have a more important issue to deal with right now,

where to go in late december

1) Dolomites (but I don't like skiiers)
2) Italian lake district
3) Cinque terre/genoa

I will see all three, but only 1 in late december, the other 2 in january.

We took the time to answer your questions you actually could find answers online and books for and you didn't even say Thank you.
However I have decided to not answer to your future questions because of your rude respond you posted to my advice. End.

Kai: Just go "eeny meeny miney moe" and come up with a decision. Time is flying by so get on with it.

The only way to find these places is to get in a car and find them. We have found wonderful spots on our own - in Abruzzi. Nobody here can give you a list.
Be brave and go on a true travellers adventure.

Going to the Dolomites at the end of December but wanting to avoid skiers is like saying you want to go the beach in August in Italy but want to avoid people sun bathing. Everyone is off work from Christmas until the 7th of January more or less here in Italy. Expect skiers, lots of them, especially as we are having record snow this year, especially in the mountains.

There is someone on the Fodor's board asking almost the exact same question about where to go in December & January and taking a lot of flack from the regulars there because of previous posts. You might want to take a look and then decide how serious this poster is.

Yep, looks the same. Just another spoiled, arrogant "traveler" wanting everyone to do the research and not even having the courtesy to be nice or grateful. I would not bother answering any of the myriad questions that are posted on here by Kai. My favorite was the one about converting kroner. Or the one where they posted "Don't you understand? I want a list of what to see and where to go!". Good lord!

Of course Michael nobody has to answer anyone's silly questions, but after some people still do it, but the initial poster responds in a rude manner and treats us as "slaves" I will say something for sure.
I don't know if you noticed or not, I respond to "normal" questions on this forum and DO NOT respond to the silly one and I believe that Kai crossed the line.

Whether this original poster is "worthy" of a response is really beside the point, isn't it? No one is being compelled to respond to any posting on this board. Remember, it's not only the original poster who benefits from comments. I learn things all the time here by reading what others have posted.

Simple solution: If you think a posting is not legitimate, ignore it.

Well, that's very open-minded of you, Michael. The dishonesty doesn't bother you, apparently. The thing is that people are responding to a bogus question, such as "I want to go to the Dolomites in December or maybe in January, but I hate skiers & ski-ing. What do you suggest?" The questions are convoluted & bizarre but, of course, if you think we can all learn from them and that people don't mind that they are being played with, then I stand corrected.